Sir Keir Starmer, the new Prime Minister, pledges allegiance to ‘Country First, Party Second’
Sir Keir Starmer has been formally appointed as prime minister after meeting with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. This visit followed Labour’s overwhelming election win. Outside 10 Downing Street, Sir Keir addressed the crowd, pledging to prioritize the country over party interests.
After his audience with King Charles III, Sir Keir stated that the nation had decisively voted for change. He emphasized the importance of public service and treating every citizen with respect. He also highlighted that his government would be guided by the determination to serve the people’s interests rather than rigid doctrine.
Labour secured 412 MPs in Parliament following their landslide victory, leading to 12 Cabinet ministers losing their seats. Notably, the Leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt, acknowledged the verdict of the democracy.
Defeated Rishi Sunak, who resigned after his audience with the monarch, announced his resignation as the leader of the Conservative Party, triggering the fourth leadership contest since 2019.
Modi Congratulates Sir Keir on ‘Remarkable Victory’
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Sir Keir on Labour’s remarkable victory. He also expressed gratitude to Mr. Sunak for his leadership and contributions to strengthening India-UK ties during his term.
Nearly all parliamentary seat results have been declared, with the Conservatives facing a historic defeat. Reform UK gained momentum, securing second place in 98 constituencies. The Green Party made significant gains, while the Liberal Democrats won 71 seats. The SNP suffered heavy losses in Scotland, dimming hopes for a second independence referendum.
‘Starmer Tsunami’ in Scotland
SNP’s leader, Stephen Flynn, attributed their losses to the “Starmer tsunami.” Jeremy Corbyn retained his seat as an independent, while George Galloway of the Workers’ Party lost his seat to Labour. This election marked a significant turnaround since 2019, with Boris Johnson securing an 80-seat Conservative majority.
PA Media contributed to this report.
